Northern Virginia Community College: Hybrid Course Template Section I: Blackboard Design This section includes a table that provides a template for setting up a hybrid course s Blackboard site. The guidelines for this come from the Hybrid Review Checklist used by the Technology Applications Center (TAC) to review the hybrid courses designed by faculty at Northern Virginia Community College. Section II: Designing Weekly Modules/Assignments This is a template for designing a week s assignments of your hybrid course.
I. Blackboard Design This table provides a template for designing your hybrid course Blackboard site prior to the beginning of your hybrid course. Column one suggests content areas for your course site. Column two lists the requirements used by TAC to review your hybrid course. Column three provides a description of what the TAC requirement means. Column four is for self-checking purposes to make sure that you complete all requirements. Notes: 1. Some items have been recommended in multiple course content areas to help emphasize key items to students. These are listed as suggested in the description column 2. Some requirements are worded differently but are the same as another requirement mentioned earlier in the template. These are listed as restated in the description column. Blackboard TAC Hybrid Course Checklist Description Status Syllabus II. Students should have easy access to a copy of the syllabus prior to the first meeting. This may be located on the instructor s or department website. The course syllabus is easily accessible in the online course itself. You should have a word document or pdf version of the syllabus available for students to download. This should include all sections. Students should have access to the same information in the print version and in the course Blackboard site. I. Syllabus must be in adherence to VCCS and college policies- per Course syllabus contains course number and title. Already included in Blackboard. Faculty Handbook 3.334 The course syllabus includes the attendance Guideline for You should have clear attendance policies listed for the the course (see Section 4.300), including the minimum face to face component of the class and the online number of times the student is required to log into the component course each week. Course syllabus contains description of how the course is going to be conducted (this is typically a proposed schedule of class meetings). Topics must be consistent with those described in the course content summary. The course syllabus contains a list of the assignments with clear instructions on where they are located and when they are due. The course syllabus describes the assessments that will be used in the course. This is the schedule of assignments. You can separate this into a separate Blackboard content area if you prefer. State clearly if an assignment is due f2f or online. If it is due online, inform student of which content area in Blackboard the assignment will be located. It should be clear what students will be graded on and how they will be assessed.
department website. Course Information The grading policy is stated clearly in the course and/or course outline. REQUIRED: In a hybrid course the division of the face-toface and online portions is clearly defined. *QM The course syllabus details policies for makeup and late work. Semester-specific course data are correct RECOMMENDED: The course syllabus includes Emergency Preparedness information for the campus. Course syllabus contains prerequisites and level of preparation expected to succeed in course. Course syllabus contains student responsibilities, including required textbook(s), assignments, and other requirements of the course. The course syllabus includes the course description as found in the VCCS Master Course File with any prerequisites for the course included. The course syllabus states minimal technical requirements for the course which should include Internet access and access to Blackboard. Course syllabus contains objectives that students are expected to achieve upon successful completion of the course. These must be consistent with the objectives in the course content summary. The learning outcomes are stated from the student s perspective.*qm The course learning outcomes are clearly stated and are measurable. *QM The students are given clear and adequate instructions on how they can meet the learning outcomes. *QM The course syllabus lists important dates for the semester. The way that grades are calculated is clear for students. There should be a clear delineation between face-toface (f2f), online and homework assignments. State your specific policy. Dates, assignments, textbooks etc are all up-to-date Set forth any classroom policies that you have. Course description and course content summary and goals should all adhere to the standards set by the VCCS. These are the course goals. Connect activities and assignments in your class to specific course objectives. Specifying learning objectives makes it clearer to the student. Use Blooms s taxonomy to define measurable outcomes (summarize, analyze, research etc.) Assignment information is clear and complete, which includes assessment criteria. Important course and college dates.
The course syllabus includes the college s honesty policy statement. Etiquette expectations for online discussions, emails, and other forms of communication are clearly stated. *QM If you have a department or personal Academic Honesty policy, you should also include that. There should be a clear explanation of how students should communicate online with one another (for instance what type of language, showing respect etc) Instructor Information Course syllabus contains instructor's name, college phone number, e-mail address, and office hours. The course syllabus includes the instructor s policy for communicating with students that states the turn-around time for preferred communication method either email or phone responses. Etiquette expectations for online discussions, emails, and other forms of communication are clearly stated. *QM RECOMMENDED: A self-introduction by the instructor is appropriate and available online. *QM Specify clearly the frequency with which you will respond to students and the best method to contact you. Online communication policy is worth repeating here especially how to communicate with instructor. Post an introduction similar to what you want students to do for their introductions. Course Grades Course syllabus contains statement of how grades will be determined. The course syllabus includes a clear statement of the instructor s grading policy. The instructor clearly states the time required before grades will be posted on the assignments. The course syllabus describes the assessments that will be used in the course. The assessment instruments are varied and appropriate. *QM Specific descriptive criteria are provided for evaluating student work and postings. *QM The grading policy is stated clearly in the course and/or course outline. Provide information of how the class is graded i.e. what numbers are equal to letters/ pass or fail. Suggested: How will a student s grade calculated for the course of the semester. You should also include any penalties or extra credit information. Articulate the time frame for returning graded work to students. Assignment rubrics or evaluation tools should be included. Assignments are appropriately evaluated i.e. the assessment is based on the type of assignment. Rubrics or other tools used for grading are posted for students to see. Suggested: The way that grades are calculated is clear for students.
The course syllabus includes the college s honesty policy statement. Suggested: You should include this in this section also especially since it affects students grades. College Resources and Information The course syllabus includes the college s disability policy statement. Links are provided to the college web pages dealing with accessibility and how to obtain accommodations for disabilities. Tutoring information is available for students to access in the course. Library information is available for students to access in the course if the library is being used for course resources. The course incorporates ADA Guidelines and conforms to the college policy on accessibility. The college policy is stated in the course outline. *QM Specific links to college resources along with any campus specific information. Specific links to college resources along with any campus specific information. Specific links to college resources along with any campus specific information. College policy on student accommodations. Course Orientation and Technology I. Create a Start Here content area which includes all the orientation information besides the welcome statement. The instructor sends students an email at the beginning of the class letting them know where to go and how to access the course. A welcome announcement is posted on the opening page of the course. Instructions there clearly indicate how the student should get started. An orientation is included to familiarize the students with course components and their location in the course. Navigation throughout the course is logical, consistent, and easy to follow. *QM At the start of the semester send students an email using Blackboards email feature. In the welcome announcement point students to the Start Here section of the course. In the Start Here section list the organization of your course such as where students will find information about the course, instructor, assignments, weekly information etc. Have established sections for where students can access materials. Try to reduce the number of areas or clicks students have to go through to get information. For example, you can create modules for each week, or have separate information and assignment sections. Regardless of how you set it up, it needs to remain consistent for the semester.
Learning Modules Students are asked to introduce themselves to the class either online or during the 1st face to face course session. *QM Minimum technical skills expected of students are clearly stated. *QM Which can include the following basic computer skills, internet research skills, any computer program requirements. Students have ready access to the required technologies for the course. Information regarding technical support is clearly communicated to the students. *QM Links to tutorials for using the required course technology are available. Instructions on accessing and using the technologies in the course are sufficient and easy to understand. The course ensures screen readability. *QM The learning activities foster interaction between the student and the course materials. The learning activities foster interaction between the instructor and the student and, if appropriate, between students. *QM In Blackboard create a discussion board where students can students can introduce themselves or a blog post, or another activity that fosters communication. This should be in addition to any f2f activities you might do. Restated. Ensure that students have the appropriate login information. There should be a permanent posting which provides information for the IT Help Desk and the Help information for any other technical programs used in the course. Include links for using Blackboard (like uploading assignments, creating discussion threads etc) and for any other type of technology. Restated. Make sure font size and colors are easy to see. Put new information towards the top so that students don t have to scroll down and hide content or announcements after a certain period of time so that there is not a lot of clutter on the page. Students should not be passive receivers of the material. They should engage with the materials through activities and/or assignments in both f2f and online settings. Instructors should build a community within the class and foster interaction between students both f2f and online. There should be a variety of activities such as instructor led, student led, whole class, small groups, pairs etc.
The instructions and due dates for the learning activities are Assignment due dates are clear. Directions and clearly stated. submission guidelines should be stated. All materials and resources used in the course are appropriately cited. *QM The links and course media function properly. Intuitive labels are used on hyperlinks rather than generic Hyperlinks should have labels. labels such as click here. *QM Course pages have links that are self-describing and Restated. meaningful.*qm Interactive technologies work correctly. There is evidence of a course evaluation plan being built into the course that will collect student feedback. RECOMMENDED: Practice assignments are provided with timely feedback. *QM Conduct a survey after the first month to see if students have settled in or at mid-semester or include information about an end of semester evaluation. To acquaint students with the types assignments, graded practice assignments can help students receive feedback prior to submitting the assignment for a grade.
II. Designing Weekly Assignments/Modules This is a template for designing a week s assignments of your hybrid course. Week: Dates: Topic(s): Objective(s): Face to Face (f2f) Online Homework i. Instructor Led Instruction ii. Course Materials iii. Student pair work iv. Small student groups v. Classroom vi. Practice exercises vii. Information Application viii.other i. Discussion threads (class or small groups) ii. Course Materials iii. Educational software programs/applications iv. Blog entry/comments v. Journal entry vi. Videos vii. Presentations viii.online/web Resources ix. Survey x. Other i. Topic Exercises ii. Course Readings iii. Writing Assignments iv. Group work v. Practice exercises vi. Other Assessment Informal: Formal: Informal: Formal: